Log hauler



Jan. M5, 1923. AZES@ F. COOK.

' Los HAULER.

FILED Nov. 4. 1919. 3 sHEETs-sHEET 2 Patented Jian. 16, i923.

FRANK o'ooK, or SPOKANE, WASHINGTON,

AssIGN'oia To THE Hom rraNUracrUarNe COMPANY, OF STOCKTON, CALIFOQNIA, A CORPORATION CALEIHORNIA.

Loe Hamann.

appncatica area-November a, 1919. serial No. santes.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK Coox, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city and county of Spokane and State of Washington, have invented `new and useful Im* provements in Log Haulers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to log haulers and has for its object to provide a device of this kind suitable for .use in forests where the ground is soft or covered vwith snow, said device. being adapted to be towed' behind a tractor and to be used `either as a single unit or in tandem.

of chain track truck mechanisms connected together' by means of an axle and mount a bolster on the axle, 'said bolster extending upwardly above the level of the upper run of the chain. tracks and being arranged to receive and support lthe logs. Draft connections are provided which serve also to stabilize the bolster. Where one unit only is used, the logs are rolled on to the bolster and supported thereon at their front ends, the rear ends of the logs trailing onthe ground behind. Where two unlts arev coupled together in tandem, the logs may be supported equally on both.

Referring to the accompanying drawings :v

Fig. 1 shows a side elevation of a device embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 shows a plan view of the same.

Fig. 3 shows a rear elevation partly in section.

Fig. 4 shows a detailed sectional view taken on a line 4 4 of Fig. 3.

The log hauler in this prese-nt form comprises a pair of self-laying track mechanisms arranged side by Side and each comprising a rigid truck frame 10 at one end of which is a blank sprocket wheel 11 and at the other` end a similar sprocket wheel 12. Over these wheels runs an endless chain track 13 made up of a series of articulated links formed each of a pair of spaced side bars 14 connected together by a gudgeon block 15. Adv jacent links are connected together by means of a pin passing through the gudgeon block. The links 14 on their inner. longitudinal edges form rail heads on which flanges 17 of the sprocket wheels bear, the rims of the sprocket wheels fitting between the side bars of the links. rlhese sprocket wheels thus help to support the load.- O-ne or more' baar-1 In the present invention I employ a pair ing rollers 18 is journaled on the truck frame between the sprocket wheels and operates uipon the rail heads ofthe links, thereby supporting the load between the sprocket wheels. Oppositev truck frames are connected together by an axle 19 journaled in bearings 2O on each truck frame. axle between the trucks is a bolster 21 formed .preferably of wood and secured'l in place on the axle by means of bolts 22. rlhis belster rises above the level of the upper run f Mounted on the the chain tracks and carries on its upper surface a bed-plate 23 vcarrying arail 24, both o f which project over the upper run of each track and are supported ontheir ends by standards 25 resting on bearingsv26 carried by the projecting ends ofthe axle 19. A pole 27 is fastened to the middle of the bolster in any suitable manner, this pole being preferably of tubular construction. An upper brace bar 28 is fixed near each end of the bolster and a lower bracebar 29 is fixed tov each end of the bolster, preferably passing beneath the axle and serving when clamped in place as a strap for the axle. All ,of these brace bars extend forwardly' and converge at one point .where they are fastened to a collar 30 surroundingthe pole. For securing thebed-plate and rail in place on top of the bolster, I show clamping plates 31 extending through the rail at points overlying-sthe brace bars. Bolts 32 extend vertically through thev bolster and serve to ret-ain the clamping plates and brace bars in position thereon. A rail 33 is preferablyv arranged beneath the axle in a manner to form a truss.

In the operation of the device. the logs are rolledon to the rail by means of skids. The upper run of the. track provides a convenient support for the skids. 1n case one unit is used, the logs are loaded sothat their rear ends drag on the ground. Longer logs mayl be handled by connecting` two units to gether in tandem and distributing the logs equally on both. rihe pole is connected in any suitable way to a tractor or to the axle of another like unit. Rings 34 are. arranged on the bolster to receive chains whereby the logs are lashed in place. The chain tracks will support as many logs as can be piled on the rail without danger of sinking into the ground and an ordinary tractor can be used successfully for towing the load. Prior devices for hauling logs employ round lmg in the ground such las is encounteredy under average logging conditions. If the wheels are made large enough in diamete to provide a. requisite supporting surface,\ they then become so high that it is exceedingly difficult to roll the logs over them.

Various changes in the construction and larrangement of the several parts herein shown and described may be employed Without departing from the spirit of my invention as disclosed in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: A

1. A log hauler comprising a pair of chain track truck mechanisms, an axle connecting opposite trucks together, a'bolster on the axle to support the logs, a draft connection serving also to maintain the bolster upright, said bolster rising above the level of the upper run of the tracks, a bedplate on the bolster projecting over the tracks, and supports for the outer ends of I/the bed-plate resting on the projecting ends of the axle. i

2. A log hauler comprising a pair of chain track truck mechanisms, each consisting of m truckframe fitted with supporting and sprocket Wheels, an axle connected to`oppo site truck frames4 on a horizontal line with the 'ournal boxes of the sprocket Wheels, a bolster'fixed on'the axle and risingr above the upper run of the chain tracks, a bedplate on the bolster projecting over the tracks to receive the logs, and a draft device connected to the bolster adjacent the axle and brace bars arranged between the bolster and draft bar.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

FRANK COOK v Witnesses:

BEN C. MARZ,A KATHERINE SCHIBEL. 

